Carthage school bus collides with car, no children injured

Friday

Mar 28, 2014 at 12:23 PM

A collision between a Carthage R-9 school bus that was taking school children home, and a car on Thursday resulted in minor injuries to the driver of the car and no injuries to the students or driver of the bus, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

John Hacker

A collision between a Carthage R-9 school bus and a car on Thursday resulted in minor injuries to the driver of the car and no injuries to the students or driver of the bus, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Carthage Assistant Superintendent Mark Baker said an initial investigation showed that the bus driver was likely at fault in the accident that happened on the outer road on the west side of Interstate 49 at Kafir Road north of Carthage.

Baker said he was not sure how many children were on the bus at the time of the crash, which was about 3:45 p.m. on Thursday.

"We believe the driver of the bus just didn't see the car as he was turning left (onto Kafir Road)," Baker said. "There's a small rise there on the outer road, but we don't think that played any role. The (bus) driver will not be driving for a while."

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Watson said the driver of the car suffered minor injuries, but refused to be transported to the hospital by an ambulance.

Watson said the bus was traveling north on the outer road, also known as County Road 138, and turning left at Kafir Road when it turned into the path of the southbound car.

Watson said the both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The school district immediately contacted parents and most children went home from the scene with parents.

Baker said the district sent a bus and transported three children whose parents could not make it to the scene.

Baker said the district forms an accident review board to look at any accident that involves a Carthage school bus.

"We're just grateful no one was seriously hurt," Baker said. "All the various services, fire department, sheriff, highway patrol, were on the scene quickly and we appreciate their response."